Destination weddings ????

Are they really more cost effective?

A friend of FH's is engaged, so the fiance and I have been exchanging wedding ideas. She is bent on having a destination wedding in the islands (puerto Rico)

The quotes she is getting (per person rate) is similar to what she would pay in NY (over $100 pp). I feel as though she would not be saving any $$$ by having it away. They already have 100 people committed to going.


What are your thoughts? Would you still do it or just have a wedding here?

I think a lot of people wouldn't go- it gets expensive with airfare and stuff. We were thinking about it, but his family is just too big. Even though people say they are going to go, it may be a different story later, which is ok as long as there is no minimum. I love the idea!

edited to say- when I was looking I found cheaper prices than that.

I am getting married in Italy and I find it to be MUCH more cost effective for the following reasons....

*Even though we invited 220, we are only expecting 60-75 people....(Obviously that's a HUGE savings)

*Even though it's $155/pp - again we are only having 60-75 people....

*No minimum required.....we could end up with 20 people and it wouldn't matter....

*Flowers, photog. and entertainment is MUCH less expensive and we have one of the best photographer's in Northern Italy...

*We are having the reception in a 14th century villa overlooking the tuscan countryside....we don't need much in the way of decorations

*Yes, alot of people think it's inconvenient, but FH and I wanted to do something REALLY amazing and wanted to fulfill OUR dreams and no one elses...that is what we are doing....
I have been shocked so far on how many people really want to come (some have already bought tickets and the weddings not till October)

Anyway....these are just my findings on the subject and so far FH and I have been really happy with our decision.

(but it does get overwhelming....)

We orginally were going to do a destination wedding in the Caribbean. We were going to keep it to immediate family and we were coming up with the same sort of numbers your friend was with the travel agent. I had my mind set on getting married on the beach. I only wish we could have done Italy (I'm soooo jealous!!!! ) My FBIL and FSIL have three kids each and traveling with families like that is really hard. So we decided to stay here..I still get my beach (westhampton, Atlantica...) but we kept it small. I think it really depends on your guest list and who you really want to come. She also has to rememeber that many people will stay to vacation there, so they might have to leave to go somewhere else for the honeymoon. (I wouldn't want my FMIL in my resort during the honeymoon!!! )